India February 2019: New XUV300 lifts Mahindra up 19.8% in 6th market decline in past 8 months

The Mahindra XUV300 is a rebadged Ssangyong Tivoli aimed at the Maruti Vitara Brezza.

It’s a 6th month of year-on-year decline in the past 8 in India as February factory shipments drop ever so slightly at -0.8% to an estimated 271.618 units, bringing the year-to-date volume down 1.2% to 551.376. Often singled out as the next engine of growth for world sales after China, the fact that the Indian new light vehicle markets seems to have plateaued is indeed worrying, just as China sales stall. Nevertheless market leader Maruti is not one to get distraught, and manages a +0.2% uptick to return its market share above the 50% symbolic mark at 50.4% this month and 50.1% YTD. Hyundai (-3.1%) on the other hand is down, but the next four carmakers all post a gain: Mahindra (+19.8%) is the most dynamic thanks to the arrival of the all-new XUV300 SUV (see further down), followed by Honda (+14%), while the gains at Tata (+1.9%) and Toyota (+0.9%) are a lot more measured. there are no good news in the remainder of the Top 15 with all manufacturers bar one (Skoda at -3.8%) falling by the double-digits, Datsun (-47%), Jeep (-32.8%) and Ford (-26.2%) being the hardest hit.

It’s a new all-time volume record for the Maruti Ertiga this month.

Over in the models ranking, Maruti is back to monopolising the Top 6 as it did over the Full Year 2018, and after losing the annual top spot in 2018 for the first time in 14 years, the Alto (+25.3%) has authoritatively regained control of the charts with a third straight monthly win, over 6.000 units above its most direct pursuant, the Maruti Swift (+5.4%). The Maruti Baleno (+13.5%) steps up to #3, knocking the 2018 leader the Maruti Dzire (-24%) down two a paltry 4th place. Boosted back in shape by an all-new generation, the Maruti Wagon R (+11.6%) reaches its highest volume in 8 month at 15.661 units, distancing the Maruti Vitara Brezza (-0.1%). As usual, three Hyundais follow: the Elite i20 (-13.7%), Creta (+10%) and Grand i10 (-11.1%).

The Tata Harrier is up 243.4% on its inaugural score in January.

The Tata Tiago (+23.3%) leaps forward to its 2nd ever monthly Top 10 finish after January 2018, while the Maruti Ertiga is up a whopping 71.7% to break its all-time volume record at 7.975 and hit its highest ranking since May 2017 at #11. The Honda Amaze (+603.3%) and Maruti Eeco (+25.8%) also impress further down just as the Hyundai Santro (#15) continues to worryingly decelerate and is down two spots on January, but the big news this month is the landing directly inside the Top 20 of the Mahindra XUV300 – which is none other than a rebadged Ssangyong Tivoli with a chopped off derriere, aimed squarely at the Maruti Vitara Brezza. With just under 4.500 factory shipments, this an immediate blockbuster that instantly becomes Mahindra’s second best-selling nameplate at #20 below only the Bolero (#12) and just above the Scorpio (#21). The other recent launches (<12 months) finding their way inside the February Top 50 are the Mahindra Marazzo at #27 (-17.8% on January), the Tata Harrier at #35 (+243.4%), Ford Freestyle at #40 (-32.8%) and Nissan Kicks at #49 (-55.5%). Still very discreet at #56, the Mahindra Alturas G4 however gains a sturdy 34% on its January figure.

Previous month: India January 2019: Honda (+23.1%), Nissan (+55.3%) can’t help 5th market decline in past 7 months, Tata Nano out

One year ago: India February 2019: Maruti DZire posts 6th win in past 7 months

Full February 2019 Top 22 All-brands and Top 90 models below.